Golf shoot-out: Locked, loaded

With 12 players qualifying, the final of the Adam Philps Podiatry Shoot Out at Masterton Golf Club started off at the 8th hole last week.
Recent surgery on her shoulder left Larraine Duckett playing with one arm so, not surprisingly, she went straightaway, followed by Jan Thompson at the 9th.
A four person chip-out at the 10th saw an early departure for perennial runner-up, Pam Griffith, who was followed by Rosie Laffey after another chip-out at the 11th. After flirting with bunkers early on, Dara Carthew had no luck at the 12th, while Jan Williams found a pulled drive and not getting a shot, too much at the 13th.
Jocelyn Pollock had an unfortunate double hit at the 14th, while Jenni Johnston suddenly contracted the chipping "yips" at the 15th. Valda Anderson wasn't able to emulate the Shirley Saunders chip-in for par at 16th, and so departed after a "chip-out". Mounting pressure probably accounted for Lesley Stewart's putting "blip" at the 17th, with the 18th left to the survivors, Jo Philps and Shirley Saunders. With both handling the drama well, we saw Jo on the green for 3 and Shirley for 4. However, Shirley sank her putt for a nett three eagle, which Jo just couldn't match, so it was congratulations to Shirley, the new Adam Philps Podiatry Champ.
There was another shoot-out final last week, with the 9 holers staging the Basils Fish Supply event. Last year's runner-up, Gerri Southey went one better this time, winning from Ruth Wiley second and Gill Neal third.
Monday vets Stableford.
Results: Women: Beryl Stuart, 26 pts, Pamela Andrew 26, Pam Sutherland 24.
Men Group 1: Franz Marwitz 28, Charles Anderson 26, Keith Nelson 26.
Men's group 2: Rex Fowler 32, Robin Whitehead 28, Brian Henson 26.
The MetLife Care Cup winners were Isobelle Weaver and Brian Henson, while there's a reminder to all vets that you have your own special Liquorland Xmas Turkey Tournament next Monday.
New equipment
The latest addition to the club's equipment is a reconditioned ride-on fairway mower, from Florida, US. The 3-year-old is head greenkeeper Robin Macklin's pride and joy, so it's a case of "look, but don't touch" at present. The ride-on is an impressive-looking beast, possessing certain advantages over tractor-drawn counterparts. It gives the driver a better view of the fairways, enabling him to define the boundaries, while, without the tractor, it is much lighter so it's good value on heavy winter fairways.
Busy season
The end of the main season is now rushing at us but there's a frantically busy period just ahead.
Firstly, the inaugural Lansdowne Park Masters tournament gets under tomorrow, with the initial 18 holes. The second and final 18 holes are scheduled for Saturday with tee-off from 10.30 onwards. However, please note that if you are eligible for the Masters but can't play on both days, you can still be in a modified competition, either for Friday, or Saturday. Contact the office or turn up on the day. This is a well-sponsored competition which deserves support.
The next Saturday November 27, features the world famous in Lansdowne, "Liquorland Open Christmas Tournament" which, by my reckoning, must be coming up pretty close to its 40th birthday. As usual, there will be a long list of prizes of a type that has a flavour of Xmas with the good news that the entry remains at $20.
A starting sheet, which includes a place for "Early Birds (starting 8am), is up and already starting to fill, so don't delay get in right away. If you can't get up to Lansdowne, contact the office to book a tee time.
As usual, the Turkey Tournament is followed by the final of the men's Markham Shoot-out contest, so that's Sunday week with 19 hopeful qualifiers due to face the starter.
Now on to Saturday, December 4, and another big day with the Jamieson Cup Contest on offer. More of that next week but please note that it's also prize-giving and the last round for the Challenge Shield.
Off The Fairway
Here's another of those quirky stories that seem to come out of golf. A week or so ago, Vince Duckett was playing in a four and hitting off the par 4 12th hole. His drive strayed off to the right into rough. Now Vince is a player who names his golf balls so when the group came on to a ball clearly marked with his name they couldn't hardly query it, although it did appear to be 20 metres short of where they thought it had landed. Vince played his shot but within seconds another ball was found also with Vince's name on it. Unfortunately, it became clear that that was the correct one so the one played from another stray shot, two weeks ago. Oh dear, a two-stroke penalty.